Chapter 9

Chapter 4. Take My Hand – Episode 1

"We found the leader Ched and his gang in the underground mine where the lord sent scouts! It seems they all hid there!"

"Oh! Were they really in the place the lord mentioned?"

"Yes! The place the lord mentioned was exactly right. The Irami underground mine was their hideout!"

The gazes of Larkis and all the soldiers turned to me.

The underground mine was a place I often visited during my days as a tracker, when a criminal organization suddenly disappeared.

The underground mine is extremely secluded and serves as an excellent hideout for criminal organizations, being a hotbed for illegal duels.

Based on my past experience, the soldiers and Larkis seemed to view it as a result of my sharp insight and keen judgment.

I encouraged the soldiers.

"All troops, move to the Irami underground mine! Let's root out the Ched gang to the soul this time! For the sake of the Crevia territory!"

"We will follow your orders! For the territory! For the lord!"

With the brave cries of the soldiers, we began our advance.

They were the proud soldiers of the territory, united under my name.

* * *

When we arrived at the underground mine, it was just about to set on the western horizon.

To ensure the right timing, I instructed everyone to wait until the sun had completely set.

Usually, the low-quality guards at the entrance of the underground mine enter the mine and drink heavily as soon as the sun sets.

During the brief wait.

I made sure the soldiers had a full meal.

I also checked the magic power increase trick I had been consistently practicing for the past month.

'Magic circulation bug. A method to accelerate the circulation of magic power in the body by 2 times, by reabsorbing the magic power I release!'

The trick I used for a month to increase my magic power was called the magic circulation bug.

The principle itself is simple.

After releasing my magic power through my hands, I reabsorb it into my body.

By repeating this process consistently, my magic power increases by 2 per day.

Of course, for ordinary people, reabsorption of magic power is impossible.

If the body is not prepared to accept the magic power, it will be blocked like a wall and bounce back.

However, I had been using acupuncture daily, and as a result, my body was prepared to explosively accept the power of the four elements.

I also had to continuously infuse magic power to maximize the effect of the fat-dissolving acupuncture, making it a win-win situation!

Larkis, who was watching me rub my belly and infuse magic power with interest, said:

"Lord, it's a touching sight every time I see it. It reminds me of when my grandmother used to rub my belly with her healing hands when I was a child."

Since the magic power was absorbed into my abdomen without showing, Larkis didn't know I was infusing magic power.

"This helps with digestion and seems to help me lose weight too."

I deflected appropriately.

Explaining the bug to him would be pointless, and there was no need to explain it anyway.

"Still, you've really lost a lot of weight. You look great now, but you're gradually becoming a more dignified lord!"

"Ha ha ha, thank you."

I laughed at Larkis's witty way of suggesting I should keep losing weight, even though I was still overweight.

I knew.

Losing weight would improve my appearance and physical condition. I appreciated his advice.

'I've increased my magic power by 60 in a month. Just by focusing on infusing magic power, I've gained the equivalent of 12 levels, which is a significant advantage. Bugs are definitely bugs!'

When a user gains a level, they receive 5 stat points to allocate.

Thus, by easily gaining 60 magic power through the bug, I had effectively reached level 13.

Comparing my current level.

I could now fight against Larkis, who is level 14.

A level 14 captain of the guard is within my range to handle.

'Well, the developers did say it's more of a training method, but this is clearly a bug.'

Thanks to the training method – which reads as a bug – my magic power is now 135.

1st class magic requires 1 magic power.

2nd class requires 10, 3rd class requires 20, and 4th class requires 40.

Given this, the increase of 60 magic power has indeed made my magic repertoire much more diverse.

'Good. The more I focus on the circulation bug, the more magic power accumulates, so I'll concentrate even more.'

Although it might look a bit embarrassing, I decided to continue the current training method of rubbing my belly and infusing magic power.

Currently, I gain 2 magic power per day, but it will increase to 3, 4, or more as my cumulative level rises.

Before the battle, I checked my stats for a final review.

'Good. The extreme obesity is gone, and my charm has returned to 5.'

It was a significant achievement in just a month.

Even the unexpected additional weight loss during the break!

The diet trick and the magic power increase bug were proceeding smoothly.

'I need to reduce my clothes size by one.'

Due to the significant fat loss, my body felt slightly slimmer.

I thought I should have Haze make new clothes as soon as I returned to the mansion.

- Give me your inner eye! Give me your eyes!

"Isabella, aren't you tired of it?"

"Excuse me? Lord, what's the matter?"

Startled by Isabella's sudden screech, I snapped, and Larkis knelt in front of me, startled.

It would be easier to ignore her if she were just annoying, but the stress comes from her suddenly shouting in my ear when I almost forget about her!

Of course, compared to the benefits of obtaining the inner eye, this level of stress is manageable.

"No. Now that it's completely dark, let's go. The guards will be more relaxed now. The underground mine starts its day at night, which is the opposite of our world."

"Indeed, you are wise, my lord."

Larkis seems to have a passive skill of praising me.

He always shows his loyalty to me.

Although it's a pity that Larkis is not a born S-class armed, I can still help him grow to a certain level.

"Everyone, let's go!"

I led the way.

Larkis and the guards followed behind.

Everyone's morale was at its highest.

With a 4th class mage like me leading the charge, the fate of the criminals in the underground mine would end today.

* * *

'Will I be sold to some unknown person, defiled, and die?'

The expression of 15-year-old Lena was not just dark but deeply melancholic.

Until just a month ago, she was an ordinary girl living in an orphanage.

She had many friends and no significant problems in her orphanage life.

As she was getting older, she often helped with the orphanage's work and played a significant role.

But one day.

The orphanage director told Lena that she could live in a much better environment.

She said that a noble family known for its etiquette and dignity wanted to hire her as a maid.

It seemed suspicious, but she followed the person who came to pick her up, thinking it might not be a lie.

She trusted the director because of the care she had received, and she didn't want to doubt it.

But the place she arrived at was not a noble family's mansion but a desolate underground mine.

This place was a black market where slave trading was openly conducted.

It was a completely illegal place where slaves were traded without any official recognition from the state or territory.

Among the girls who had been brought there before, many were sold to old men with clearly malicious intentions.

The same was true for young boys, who were dragged away while screaming for help.

'I don't want to be sold as a slave and live like this for the rest of my life. This isn't what I wanted!'

Lena shook her head violently.

She wanted to fight back, but she was unarmed.

She missed not having a shield and a sword in her hands.

Next to the orphanage where Lena lived was a mercenary group.

She always secretly watched their training over the fence.

Although she didn't receive direct training, she had learned a lot through observation.

Shield defense and sword skills were very interesting.

Especially the defense techniques were so fascinating to watch.

Lena thought she could become a great soldier, regardless of her gender.

If she could be more ambitious, she wanted to become a knight, someone who could protect her allies.

But that dream was fading.

The people who came to this mine were all human scum, whether buyers or sellers.

If she was sold, she might be lucky to survive, but she could also be defiled and killed.

Just then.

As the slave trading was about to begin, and the underground mine was about to get chaotic.

Whoosh! Flame!

"Ah! It's on fire! Ow!"

"Fi, fire! Ah! On my arm!"

"Choke."

A fireball flew in a parabolic trajectory from the entrance and hit the stage in the center of the mine.

The two auctioneers who were about to conduct the illegal auction were instantly killed.

Five people nearby were engulfed in flames and were running around, screaming.

"Rescue all the captives and execute all the criminals here! Don't leave a single one alive!"

At that moment, a man on horseback charged in bravely from the entrance.

Although his body was somewhat plump, he had a powerful voice.

Not only that, but he was also casting dazzling magic and eliminating the criminals who were charging at him.

He was a mage.

"Ah..."

Lena's eyes were fixed on the man.

Her future, which she thought would end in death, was dramatically changing.

A savior had appeared!

* * *

'Good. Let's wipe out these guys all at once and boost the loyalty of the territory's residents by completing quests!'

I was sweeping through the mine with a purpose, punishing the criminals with all my might.

Compared to my ordinary life in my previous life, I now had a useful talent: magic.

The 'minions' below level 5 were no match for me.

Their magic defense was so low that they suffered severe injuries even from a glancing blow.

The only one who could put up a fight was the leader of the criminal organization, Ched.

'You even drank? Today is a good day for you to die.'

The information from the inner eye scan of Ched was useful.

He had no magic defense and his judgment was impaired due to intoxication.

A rapid and intense magical assault would be the best choice. The opponent was half incapacitated.

I immediately dismounted.

With a thud, the ground shook as I landed.

'Embarrassing.'

But I quickly shook off the embarrassment and blocked Ched's path as he tried to escape.

"Ched, I'm here to execute you."

"No... I thought it was someone else, but it's our lord? You should be eating fatty meat at the mansion, not doing this nonsense!"

Ched bellowed.

It was clear that the previous management of the territory was a mess.

Even the leader of a criminal organization looked down on the lord.

"I will capture you. No, I will kill you."

"Piglet, Lord Ched won't die to you!"

"...Piglet?"

A fact, but not something I wanted to hear.

The words flew at me coldly, like a sharp dagger.